Hemmer for sewing machines



Dec. 31,- 1935.

G. C. COOPER HEMMER FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed July 16, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 31, 1935. s. c, COOPER HEMMER FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed July 16, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Dec. 31, 1935. 'G. C PER 2,026,302

HEMMER FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed July 16, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Dec. 31, 1935 UNITED STATES HEMMER FOR SEWING MACHINES Grover C. Cooper, Hinsdale, 111., assignor to Union Special Machine Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application July 16, 1934, Serial No. 735,535

10 Claims.

The invention relates to new and useful improvements in a hemmer for sewing machines and the manner of mounting the same whereby it may be quickly withdrawn from operative position.

An object of the invention is to provide a hemmer wherein the folding scroll member is mounted so that it may yield bodily laterally in all directions, and wherein the member over which the fabric is folded is likewise mounted so that it may independently yield bodily in all directions and thus facilitate the passing of a cross seam through the hem folder.

A further object of the invention is to pro-vide a hem folder of the above type wherein the folding scroll member is mounted intermediate its ends on a spring member which is so constructed as to permit the receiving end of the folding scroll member to yield bodily laterally away from the line of feed independently of the movement of the delivery end of the folding scroll member, and wherein said delivery end may likewise yield laterally independently of the receiving end so that said folder may yield progressively from the receiving end to the delivery end thereof as the cross seam passes therethrough.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a hem folder of the above type wherein the member over which the fabric is folded is attached at the receiving end thereof to a yielding member which overhangs the fold formed in the fabric.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a hem folder of the above type with a fabric supporting plate having a slottherein through which the lower portion of the folding scroll member passes and which forms a continuation of the folding scroll member in its shifted positions.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a supporting means for the hem folder which is shiftable laterally of the line of feed, and wherein a holding latch cooperates with the adjustable plate for positioning the hem folder for operation.

These and other objects will in part be obvious 45 and will in part be hereinafter more fully disclosed.

Inthe drawings- Figure 1 is an end view of a machine embody-' ing the improvements; v

50 Fig. 2 is a plan view of a portion of the machine and showing the hem folder and the means for supporting the same;

Fig. 3 is a front view of the hem folder diagrammatically illustrating the work support on which it is mounted;

Fig. 4 is a view in perspective showing the different sections of the hem folder separated from each other;

. Fig. 5 is an end view of the scroll member and the carrier plate therefor;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view on the line 6-6 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is a view partly in section showing the hem folder, and showing in dotted lines the bodily shifting of the scroll folder;

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. '7, but showing the receiving end of the folder as having shifted while the delivery end thereof remains in a set position;

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 8, but showing the delivery end as having shifted while the receivng end remains in a set position;

Fig. 10 is a View showing more or less diagrammatically and in section a hem seam produced with applicants folder, and

Fig. 11 is a view similar to Fig. 10, but showing the fabric sections separated and the hem folder used for joining the sections and concealing the raw edges of the material.

The invention is shown as applied to a sewing machine which is designed for edge stitching. The machine as illustrated is of the type disclosed in the. patent granted Norman V. Christensen and Frederick F. Zeier, March 25, 1930, No. 1,751,508, except that instead of being equipped for overedge stitching, it is equipped for forming a straight line of stitching. The invention has particularly to do with a hem folder for folding the edge of a fabric section preparatory to the stitching of the same. tached to a carrier plate which is mounted so that it may be shifted laterally of the line of feed for positioning the hem folder in front of the presser foot for operation on the fabric edge, or for moving the hem folder to one side of the presser foot to an inoperative position. The hem folder includes a housing in which is located the scroll folder for inturning the edge portion of the fabric, and a guide which cooperates with the housing for underturning the inturned edge portion of the fabric. The scroll folder is mounted on a yielding supporting means in the form of a spring rod which is attached to the scroll folder intermediate its ends and is so shaped as to permit said scroll folder to yield bodily during the passing of a cross seam, to yield at the receiving end while the delivery end remains in a substantially fixed position, and'to yield at the delivery end while the receiving end remains in a substantially fixed position. This enables The hem folder is atupwardly along the ing end of the scroll folder to shift away from the line of feed while the stop 3! is held in contact with the shoulder 30. This is caused by the entering of a cross seam, and the entering of the cross seam does not interfere with the delivery end of the scroll folder properly holding the edge portion folded. The entire scroll folder can shift bodily and permit the cross seam to pass along to the delivery end. As it reaches the delivery end, the scroll folder will yield to permit said cross seam to pass, while the receiving end of the scroll folder remains in its normal set position and will inturn the edge portion of the fabric section so as to make a proper hem fold immediately following the cross seam.

In Fig. 8, the receiving end of the scroll folder is shown as shifted to permit the entering of the cross seam. In Fig. 7, the entire scroll folder is shifted while the cross seam is passing the center portion thereof, and in Fig. 9, the delivery end is shown as yielding to permit the cross seam to pass therefrom.

There is also a member over which the infolded edge portion is underturned. This is the member 39 which cooperates with the curved. portion at the delivery end of the housing in curling under the edge portion. Attached to the member 3| is a guide rod 38 which aids in guiding the inturned edge portions of the fabric sections.

The member 39 tapers toward the delivery end thereof. It is mounted at the receiving end on a spring rod 40. This rod has a shank portion 4| which is clamped beneath the head of the screw H5. The spring rod 40 is shaped so that it extends front edge of the housing member l4. Said rod extends to the left of the member 30, as viewed in Fig. 3, and is curved downwardly and inwardly to give ample room for the folded edge portion of the fabric section which passes over this member 39. This member 39 can yield bodily in any direction under the influence of a passing cross seam. The portion 32 of the folding scroll member extends beneath the surface of the carrier plate 8 and normally presses against the shoulder 32a, and. therefore, when it shifts, it will still remain substantially in alinement with the upper face of said carrier plate 8.

From the above it will be apparent that a hem folder has been provided which is constructed member so that it can yield progressively, the

fabric will be properly folded up to the cross seam, the cross seam will pass through and the fabric will be controlled and folded following the cross seam, and thus a neatly turned hemmed edge formed.

Whenever it is desired to shift the hem folder to an inoperative position for the finishing of a seam, or for other purposes, this can be readily accomplished by the operator pressing on the latch 22 which will release it from the shoulder, and the spring will automatically shift the hem folder to said inoperative position. The hem folder may also be quickly returned to operative position by a pressure on the latch in a direction which returns the hem folder to its normal operating position.

While the invention has been described as useful in hemming the edges of fabric sections, the hem is comparatively small, and the fabric sections may be separated and turned into the same plane, thus producing a seam for joining the fabric sectionswhich is akin to a French felled seam. In Fig. 10, the two fabric sections are shown more or less diagrammatically and they are indicated at F and F. The two sections are superimposed one on the other as they pass into the hem folder, and the edge portions thereof are folded back as indicated at f and then turned under as indicated at f. The needle stitch is indicated at s. small and. wherein the edges are inturned and concealed. The fabric sections F and F are then turned to the position shown in Fig. 11, where, on the right side of the fabric, the stitches do not show, and on the wrong side of the fabric, 15..

the edge portions are turned into a hem, the raw edges concealed, and the parts united by a single line of through and through stitches. There is no difference in the operation of the machine when hemming the edge of a fabric 20,,

and when joining the two fabric sections by hemming the edge portions thereof. By applicants construction and mounting of the parts of the hemmer, a very small hem is produced which accomplishes the results stated. 25?:

in the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what'I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. A hem folder for sewing machines including a folding scroll member, a yielding member attached to said folding scroll member intermediate the ends thereof and constructed so as to permit said folding scroll member to shift bodily and to shift angularly about a point adjacent either the receiving end or the delivery end of 402 the folding scroll member so as to permit a cross seam to cause said folding scroll member to progressively yield as the cross seam contacts with and is moved along the same.

2. A hem folder for sewing machines including 452 a folding scroll member, a yielding member attached to said folding scroll member intermediate the ends thereof and constructed so as to permit said folding scroll member to shift bodily and to shift angularly about a point adjacent either the receiving end or the delivery end of the folding scroll member so as to permit a cross seam to cause said folding scroll member to progressively yield as the cross seam contacts with and is moved along the same, a member over which the edge portion is folded, and a yielding member on which said last-named member is mounted so that it may yield bodily in any direction during the passing of the cross seam.

- 3. A hem folder for sewing machines compris- 6051 ing a carrier plate, a housing attached to said carrier plate and overhanging the same, a folding scroll member disposed within said housing,

a spring rod attached to the carrier plate and extending into said housing, said spring rod hav- 6 to shift bodily and also turn and shift angularly about a point adjacent either the receiving end or the delivery end thereof.

4. A hem folder for sewing machines comprising a carrier plate, a housing attached to said This produces a hem which is 15 carrier plate and overhanging the same, a fold- 76 ing scroll member disposed within said housing, a spring rod attached to the carrier plate and extending into said housing, said spring rod having a depending portion to which said folding scroll member is attached intermediate the ends thereof, said spring rod being shaped and disposed so as to permit said folding scroll member to shift bodily and also turn and shift angularly about a point adjacent either the receiving end or the delivery end thereof, said housing having a stop shoulder, and said folding scroll member having a projecting lug normally held in engagement with said stop shoulderby said spring rod.

5. A hem folder for sewing machines comprising a carrier plate, a housing attached to said carrer plate and overhanging the same, a folding scroll member disposed Within said housing, a spring rod attached to the carrier plate and extending into said housing, said spring rod having a depending portion to which said folding scroll member is attached intermediate the ends thereof, said spring rod being shaped and disposed so as to permit said folding scroll member to shift bodily and also turn and shift angularly about a point adjacent either the receiving end or the delivery end thereof, a member over which the edge portion is folded, and a yielding member on which said last-named member is mounted so that it may yield bodily in any direction during the passing of the cross seam.

6. A hem folder for sewing machines comprising a carrier plate, a housing attached to said carrier plate and overhanging the same, a folding scroll member disposed within said housing, a spring rod attached to the carrier plate and extending into said housing, said spring rod having a depending portion to which said folding scroll member is attached intermediate the ends thereof, said spring rod being shaped and disposed so as to permit said folding scroll member to shift bodily and also turn and shift angularly about a point adjacent either the receiving end or the delivery end thereof, a member over which the fabric is folded, a spring rod attached to said carrier plate and extending along the edge of the housing, thence downwardly and inwardly and attached to the receiving end of said lastnamed member for supporting the same so that it may yield in any direction through the contacting of a cross seam therewith.

7. A hem folder for sewing machines comprising a carrier plate, a housing attached to said carrier plate and overhanging the same, a folding scroll member disposed within said housing, a spring rod attached to the carrier plate and extending into said housing, said spring rod having a depending portion to which said folding scroll member is attached intermediate the ends thereof, said spring rod being shaped and disposed so as to permit said folding scroll member to shift bodily and also turn and shift angularly about a point adjacent either the receiving end or the delivery end thereof, said carrier plate having a slot formed therein and said folding scroll member having a projecting portion 5,

extending through said slot and beneath the. carrier plate and forming a continuous fabric engaging surface therewith for all adjustments of said folding scroll member.

8. A hem folder for sewing machines compris- 10 ing a folding scroll member, a member over which the edge of the fabric is folded, a carrier plate,

a resilient rod attached to the carrier plate and carrying said folding scroll member, a resilient rod attached to the carrier plate and carrying said member over which the fabric is folded, a housing attached to said carrier plate and covering said folding scroll member and said member over which the fabric is folded and cooperating with said folding scroll member in the delivery of the hem fold to the stitching mechanism.

9. A hem folder for sewing machines comprising a carrier plate, a folding scroll member for turning the edge portion of the fabric section to form a hem yieldingly mounted in said carrier plate, a member over which the fabric is folded yieldingly mounted on said carrier plate, said carrier plate being mounted for movement at right angles to the line of feed, a spring for normally moving said carrier plate to place the folder in an inoperative position, a latch carried by said carrier plate and. movable therewith, and a stop plate having a shoulder with which said latch contacts for holding said hem folder in an inoperative position.

10. A hem folder for sewing machines comprising a carrier plate, a folding scroll member for turning the edge portion of the fabric section to form a hem yieldingly mounted in said carrier plate, member over which the fabric is folded yieldingly mounted on said carrier plate, said carrier plate being mounted for movement at right angles to the line of feed, a spring for normally moving said carrier plate to place the folder in an inoperative position, a latch carried by said carrier plate and movable therewith, a stop plate having a shoulder with which said latch contacts for holding said hem folder in an operative position, said latch being pivoted intermediate its ends, and a finger plate attached to the latch and disposed relative to its pivotal support so that pressure in one direction on said plate will release the latch so that the hem folder will be automatically shifted to an inoperative position, and pressure in another direction on said plate will move the hem folder to operative position and permit said latch to engage the stop shoulder.

GROV'ER C. COOPER. 

